Vertically adjustable table



I Jimy 59 W49@ M. sQUlREs I f-@SAM VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Filed March 29, 194e TI T..

/llllll/ IN VEN TOR.

Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE TABLE Mollie Squires, Thompsonville, Conn.

Application March 29, 1946', Serial No. 658,015

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to improvements in tables.

The principal objects of the invention are the provision of a table having a removable top and a supplementary top which is movable up and down within a frame in combination with means for actuating said supplementary top and for guiding said top and releasably locking it in upperposition.

According to special features of the invention, the table includes side and endmembers of appreciable depth or height forming a frame in which the supplementary top is movable up and down thus providing a construction adapted for many and various uses.

For instance, when the supplementary top is in its lower position within the frame and the removabie top is removed, it is possible to set the table, that is arrange dishes and the like on the supplementary top and replace the removable top for its normal use. Then when desired, theremovable top may be removed and the supplementary top, with its dishes, elevated so that readily and quickly a set up table is provided. Or with the supplementary top` in its lower position in the frame, there is provided a receptacle adapted for the storage of various articles with the removable top functioning as a receptacle closure.

With theI foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and the more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and side elevational views respectively showinga table embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the table shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the top removed therefrom;

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional elevational views at an enlarged scale on the lines 4-4 and 5 5 respectively of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a plan View at an enlarged scale of a corner of the table shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

The table of the invention includes longitudinal side wall members 2 and transverse end wall members 4 suitably secured together and to legs such as B. The members 2 and 4 are of considerable depth or height and form a frame which is supported by the legs.

A top 8 is provided which in adapted to rest on and be supported by the frame and is constructed so as to be readily removed from and set onto the frame.

A supplementary top l is provided within the frame which is movable `up and down therein between a lower position shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and an upper position indicated by dotdash lines in Fig. 5.

The sides and ends of the supplementary top ED are closely adjacent but spaced from the side and end members 2 and 4 suciently to allow free up and down movements thereof within the frame.

A pedestal l2 is provided which is preferably tied to the legs 8 by struts I4 and a post I6 has its upper end secured in some suitable manner to the under side of the supplementary top lll. Said post i6 is slidable up and down in the pedestal I2.

The supplementary top I0 may be moved between lower and upper positions by various means but one form thereoi now to be described is shown in Fig. 4.

A hollow bracket 2li within the pedestal I2 and secured thereto is provided with a bearing 22 in which is vertically reciprocable a screw member 24 that extends downwardly from a plate 26 secured to the lower end of post I6.

A gear 2@ internally threaded and in engagement with the screw 24 is rotatable on the bearing 22. A shaft 3D is rotatable in a bearing 32 of the bracket and has fixed thereto a gear 34 in mesh with the gear 26. The outer end of shaft is adapted to be engaged by a rotating member which may be of any desired form.

By rotating the shaft 3l] in one direction or the other, the gear 26 is rotated and thereby the screw 24 is raised or lowered so that through the post I6 the supplementary top I0 is moved be-` tween its lower and upper positions within the frame.

It is desirable that the top l0 be guided in its up and down movements thereby to be maintained l-evel at all times. To that end guide members are provided which are secured to and extend downwardly from the corners of the top l0.

The legs 6 at inner sides are cut away to provide should-ers 42 in Figs. 5 and 6 and are provided with vertically disposed guideways 44 in which the guide members 40 are slidable.

It will also be desirable to provide means for releasably locking the top I8 in its upper position. To that end a plurality of members 46 are rotatable in the top I which are slotted as shown in Fig. 6. Fixed to the lower ends of the members 46 are dogs 48 which are movable outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 6 as the members 46 are turned counterclockwise. Slots 50 are provided on the inner sides of the side members 2 which are adapted to receive the dogs when the top l0 is in upper position. Thus with the top in upper position, the lock members are rotated to swing the dogs into the slots thereby to releasably lock the top in its upper position and hold it against displacement.

With the top I8 in its lower position within the frame and with the top 8 removed the table may be set as may be desired. The top 8 may be replaced and the table used in the normal manner. When desired, the top 8 may be removed and the top I8 carrying th-e setting may be elevated to its upper position. Thus it is possible to readily and quickly provide a fully set table by removing the top 8 and elevating the top i8.

When in lower position, the top I0 is completely enclosed Within the frame and the articles supported thereby are not disturbed as it is elevated. By being completely enclosed the top l 8 with the frame members provid-es a receptacle for the storage of articles with the top 8 providing the closure therefor.

The table construction may be of various shapes and sizes and obviously may be made from various materials.

The invention may be embodied in other specie forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictivey the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A table construction comprising in combination, opposite and adjacent vertically disposed longitudinal side and transverse end members secured together and forming a vertically extending hollow frame open at upper and lower sides, a separate member adapted to be removably supported by the upper side of said frame to overlie the opening therein and form the entire top for said table, vertically extending elongated legs secured at their upper ends to adjacent portions 4 of the side and end members of the frame providing the entire support for said frame, a separate vertically extending pedestal having an upper end terminating in a plane disposed closely adjacent the plane of the lower side of said frame and a lower end for resting on a oor, rigid members extending between said pedestal and legs having opposite ends secured to said pedestal and legs respectively and holding said pedestal centrally of said frame, said pedestal provided with a vertically extending plural sided guide- Way open at its upper side, a post reciprocable in said guideway between lower and upper positions thereof, a at supplemental table top within said frame secured to an upper side of said post and having longitudinal side and transverse edges closely adjacent and parallel to inner sides of the side and end members of the frame and adapted to be moved by said post between a lower position in said frame and an upper position at the upper side thereof whereby to provide the entire top for said table, a bracket fixed in the lower portion of said guideway having vertical and horizontal bearings, a drive shaft and a threaded propeller shaft rotatable in Said horizontal and vertical bearings, a pair of gears fixed on and connecting said shafts, one of said gears threadedly engaging said propeller shaft and the upper end of said propeller shaft secured to the lower end of said post, all adapted and arranged whereby as the drive shaft is rotated in one direction or the other the post is reciprocated up or down to move the supplemental top up or down within the frame and engageable lock means carried by said frame and supplemental top adapted to lock said top to the frame in its U-Dper position.

MOLLIE SQUIRES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 9,873 Bisbee July 26, 1853 328,475 Ford Oct. 20, 1885 911,843 Sample Feb. 9, 1909 942,779 Hiatt Dec, 7, 1909 1,417,948 Seska May 30, 1922 1,428,629 Gunn Sept. 12, 1922 1,676,108 Novak July 3, 1928 1,708,080 Caldwell Apr. 9, 1929 1,893,551 Kosk Jan. 10, 1933 1,981,680 Tindale Nov. 20, 1934 

